Suspect arrested after Woodstock bank robbery

A photo taken from a social media video shows several Woodstock Police officers pointing their firearms at a bank robbery suspect on Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested without incident and police say he was out on bail after committing a similar crime. (Contributed Photo).

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Reporter

A heavy police presence in downtown Woodstock during the noon hour on Tuesday resulted in an arrest after a bank robbery.

Police say a 35-year-old male from Chatham, currently out on bail for robbery with court-imposed conditions, was arrested near the TD Canada Trust at 539 Dundas Street.

Police received a report of a robbery in progress at 12:03 p.m. and investigators determined the suspect provided a note demanding money from bank staff six minutes later.

The suspect was located in front of the bank on Wellington Street shortly after the incident and he was taken into custody without incident. The stolen money was recovered and no injuries were reported.

Eyewitnesses posted photos on social media of several officers pointing their firearms at the accused on Wellington Street. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing. The police station is located two blocks away from the scene of the crime.

“In any high-risk situation, including a bank robbery, the actions of the suspect will dictate the reactions of the police,” said Inspector Jamie Taylor. “Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of the victims inside, the public outside and our officers.”

Taylor added firearms are only drawn when there is a fear of serious bodily harm or death.

“In this case, our officers responded appropriately based on the threat they faced. I’m proud to say they were able to de-escalate the situation without the need for physical force. The officer's presence and verbal communications resolved the situation safely. The officers did a fantastic job under stress and given the nature of the call.”

He added while the suspect was not armed, police didn’t know that until he was arrested. Officers are now required to do the necessary paperwork after deploying force.

“They all have to do use of force reports, which need to be approved by their immediate supervisor, our use of force instructors, and then signed off by me.  There are many levels of supervision and governance in these cases.”

The Woodstock Police Service would also like to thank the public and TD Canada Trust staff for their assistance during the investigation.